Feedikand metzgee



(No Model.)

P. METZGER.

SUSPENSION DEVICE. I N0.'362-,304. Patented May'3, 1887.

v I A I 12* f I .x- L -i al d, Y L 9 5 d Bra ATTORNEYS "sinus.Phmo-Lillwgmphur, Washington. D c. 7

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FERDINAND METZGER, OF PORT CHESTER, NEW YORK.

SUSPENSION DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 362,304, dated May 3,1887. r Application filed November 18, 1886. Serial No. 219,.91. (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FERDINAND METZGER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Port Chester, in the county of Westchester and State of NewYork, have invented new and useful ImprovementsinSuspension Devices, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a device for suspendinglamps, flower-pots, and

other articles; and the invention consists in the features set forth inthe following specification aud claims, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of thedevice, partly in section. Fig. 3 is a section in the plane as m, Fig.1.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

The letters A A indicate drums, adapted to turn on an axle or spindle,C. The spindle vided with suitable bearings-as, for example, j

does not turn with the drums A A. The drums A A are suitablyconnected-as, for example, by screws a a-so that the drums will revolvetogether. Diaphragms, disks, or plates b b, suitably formed and applied,close the drums A A", and prevent entranceof dust, and also improve theappearance of the device.

In the drawings the plate 12 is shown ashe ing held in place by the drumA pressing said plate 1) into its seat on the drum A. The plate 11 istapped for the reception of the screws a a, and the heads of thesescrews sit against the top of the drum A. By properly applying thescrews'a a, the drums A A and plates 1) b will be secured to oneanother. From the drums A A pass cords or chains 9 g to pulleys ff.These pulleys ff are proin arms (2 (1, attached to a support, d.

In Fig. 1 the support is secured by suitable means-as, for example, anut to the spindle C. To the spindle G is secured one end of a spring,H, the other end of said spring being suitably secured to the drums A Aas, for example, by being secured to or looped about the screw a. Thetension of the spring H has a tendency to wind the cords or chains 9 9about the drums A A. As the cords or chains are unwound from the drums AA the rotation of the drum about the stationary spindle G increases thetension of the spring H, so that said spring has a greater tendency toro- Fig. 2is a plan view thereof.

tate .the drums A A so as to wind up the cords g g.

To equalize theeffect of the spring H on the cords g g the drums A A aremade conical or cone-shaped, as shown. In the drawings said drumsapproximate in shape to cone-frustums.

from the centers of the drums, thus increasing the leverage of the pullof said cords upon the spring. As the tension of the spring decreasesand the cords are wound up, the leverage of the pull of said cords isdiminished, as will readily be understood. The action or pull of saidspring upon the cords is thus equalized, instead of being greater, asthe tension of the spring increases and less as the tension of thespring decreases.

By having the action of the spring thus equalized, as stated, an articlecan be suspended at any point in the path or range of the cords, whichrange can be attained by the cords winding upon or unwinding from thedrums. For example, if an object-such as a lamp, flowerpot, fish-globe,or other article-is suspended from the cords g near to the support (I,the tension of the spring may besufficient to hold that article at thatplace; but if said article be drawn to a position farther away from thesupport (1, the increased tension of the spring,

if not counteracted, might move said article toward the support d. Byequalizing the effect of the spring upon the cords as stated any objectsuspended from the cords, can be moved to various positions required bythe winding or unwinding of the cord, and such object will remain insuch position. It is thus not necessary to apply any brake or stopmechanism to secure a fixed position for an article suspended from thisdevice.

In the device shown in Fig. 1 the spindle O is provided with ascrew-thread, G, which is engaged by a female screw, 73 t", on the drumsA A. The female screw 1. t" can be conveniently formed by pivoting twoarms to the drums, as seen in Fig. 3, where is shown a pivot, 6 andcausing said arms to engage the screwthread O. A spring or holdingdevice,

2 362,30&

k, is adapted to keep the arms of the female screw i i in engagementwith the screw-thread C. The female screw 1 1 through its engage mentwith the screw-thread O on the spindle, causes the drums A A to rise andfall on the spindle as said drums revolve. The points at which the cordsg 9 pass from the drums to the pnlleysf f is thus kept uniformly near tosaid pulleys, so that the cords g y will not be liable to run off saidpulleys.

In the device shown in Fig. 1 the spindle C is placed vertically, andsaid spindle carries the support (I. In this device the action of thespring on the cords is equalized by the conic shape of the drum.

A. hook or ring, I, suitably swivelcd or attached, for example, to thespindle C, Fig. 1, enables the device to be attached to the ceiling of aroom or at any other suitable place. The drn ms A A may be provided withgrooves or channels, if desired, for guiding the cords or chains 9 gduring the motion of the drums.

In case the device is used for suspending lamps it is well to provide anattachnient such as a smoke-bell, J-to prevent the heat and flame fromstriking the device.

It is evident that an endwise movement of the drums A A or of thepulleys ff is of advantage, whether the drums be of conical shape or ofany other shape, such as cylindrical. The female screw i i may be formeddirectly on the drum or one of its walls or diaphragms-such as thediaphragm or partition I); but by having the screw-thread 2' idetaelrably applied to the drum said screw-thread a? i can be removed, ifdesired as, for example, for the purpose of repairing or replacing saidscrew-thread i i.

lVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of a spindle, O, a drain or drums, A A", a support,d, having guidepulleys ff, cords or chains 9 g, and means, substantiallyas described, for moving the drum or drums endwise on the spindle as thecords or chains are Wound or unwound.

2. The combination of aspindle, (J, having a screw, 0', a drum or drums,A A, having a screwthread engaging the screw, a support havingguide-pulleysff, and chains or cords y connecting with the drum or drumsand passing over the guide-pulleys, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a spindle, O, hav ing a screw, 0', of the drumor drains A A, the support (I, having arms d d, guide-pulleys ff, thespring II, and the female screw i 13,

pivotally mounted on the drums, substantially as described.

4. In a suspending device, the combination, with the spindle C, of adrum, cords or chains yg', gnidepulleys ff, :1 screw-thrcad or itsequivalent, 0, on the spindle, a correspond ing screw-thread, t i, onthe drum, and a spring or holding device, 7:, applied to thescrew-thread i ll, substantial] y as set forth.

In testimony whercofI have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presenceof two subscribing Witnesses.

Tnoams Kivo'r'r,

Josnrn XV. CLIFFORD.

